Vincent Jackson

:"Vincent Jackson is also the birth name of the athlete better known as Bo Jackson."Infobox NFLactive


|currentteam=San Diego Chargers
currentnumber=83
|caption=Vincent Jackson during the 2007 season.
currentpositionplain=Wide Receiver
birthdate=birth date and age|1983|1|14
birthplace=Fort Polk, Louisiana
heightft=6
heightin=5
weight=241
debutyear=2005
debutteam=San Diego Chargers
college=Northern Colorado
draftyear=2005
draftround=2
draftpick=61
pastteams=
* San Diego Chargers 2005-Present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Receptions
statvalue1=71
statlabel2=Receiving Yards
statvalue2=1,135
statlabel3=Receiving TDs
statvalue3=9
nfl=JAC627460

Vincent Jackson (born January 14, 1983 in Fort Polk, Louisiana) is an American football wide receiver who currently plays in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers.

Early years

Jackson attended Widefield High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As a senior, he was a "Rocky Mountain News" All-State Honorable Mention, a first team All-Area pick, and a first team All-Conference pick. He also was a standout in basketball. This also is when he earned the nickname frisbee because of his incredible speed. Graduated with a 4.25 GPA.

College career

Vincent Jackson played college football at the University of Northern Colorado. It was one of the few colleges that recruited Jackson out of high school.

NFL career

2005 NFL Draft

Vincent was the 29th player selected in the second round (61st overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft (the highest ever by a UNC graduate) by the San Diego Chargers.

("* represents NFL Combine")

an Diego Chargers

Jackson got off to a slow start in 2005 due to injuries. He was inactive for the first five games of the season and finally saw his first NFL action in an October 16th game against the Oakland Raiders. He caught his first pass on November 6th against the New York Jets, but he would only catch two more passes for the rest of the season.

Jackson caught his first NFL touchdown on September 17, 2006 in a victory over the Tennessee Titans. In 2006 in a Christmas Eve game against the Seattle Seahawks, Jackson had a memorable touchdown catch that led the Chargers to victory. With 29 seconds left, quarterback Philip Rivers threw a touchdown pass to Jackson and the Chargers ended up winning the game 20-17 and setting a franchise record for wins. Jackson ended the season strongly and finished second on the team with six touchdown catches.

In a 2006 game against the Oakland Raiders, Jackson nearly made one of the most bizarre turnovers in recent NFL history. After making a 13 yard catch on fourth down, Jackson immediately got up and spun the ball forward in celebration. Because Jackson had fallen on his own and was not tackled, Raiders cornerback Fabian Washington believed it to be a fumble and leapt upon the ball. Possession was originally awarded to Oakland, but the Chargers were then flagged for an illegal forward pass and allowed to keep the ball.

By virtue of the release of Keenan McCardell and an injury to Eric Parker, Jackson entered the 2007 season as a starting wide receiver for the Chargers. He started the season in an unmemorable fashion in a home game against the Chicago Bears by dropping a sure touchdown that bounced off his chest in the end zone. However, by the end of the season, Jackson had distinguished himself as a top target for Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers

References